COLIN EAMENS AND SHOCKING SEXUAL ABUSE IN FLINTSHIRE

A man described as a 'depraved' sex offender, Colin Eamens, has been convicted of a long history of abusing young boys in Flintshire. At the age of 66, residing on Nelson Street in the town of Shotton, Eamens engaged in a disturbing campaign of sexual misconduct that lasted for over fifty years, all while maintaining a facade of being a respected member of his local community.

Eamens pleaded guilty to a total of 17 counts of sexual abuse involving six underage teenage boys, with the offences spanning from the late 1970s into the 2010s. The gravity of his crimes was acknowledged in Mold Crown Court during his sentencing on a recent Friday, where he was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

Prosecutor Brian Treadwell described how Eamens would entice children to visit his home by offering sweets and fizzy drinks, creating an environment where he could exploit their innocence. He reportedly also targeted the boys by seeking out items such as computer game consoles and a Sodastream machine, which he used as bait to attract children to spend time at his residence.

From his early 20s to his mid-50s, Eamens befriended not only the boys but also their parents, gaining a reputation as a trusted 'family friend.' Some of these children would stay overnight at his house, increasing the opportunities for abuse. During court proceedings, one victim recounted how Eamens would perform sexual acts on himself in front of him—a behavior that became habitual.

The same victim revealed that the abuse escalated to Eamens performing sexual acts on him herself, an occurrence that allegedly took place on at least 30 different occasions. The court was informed that Eamens raped this particular victim on Christmas Day during the 1980s, when he was only 15 years old, and continued abusing him over the next two years.

Further testimony detailed that Eamens had sexually abused five additional boys over a period of more than three decades. His methods included performing sexual acts either publicly in front of the children or directly upon them. The court was also told that he had offered some of his victims money in exchange for sexual favors.

Throughout the hearing, Duncan Bould, representing Eamens, acknowledged that his client was very upfront about his past actions and understood that a significant prison sentence was inevitable. Following the court's decision, Judge Rhys Rowlands sentenced Eamens to a total of 17 years behind bars for his horrific offences. The judge praised the bravery of the victims for coming forward and giving evidence.

In his remarks, Judge Rowlands commented on Eamens’ behavior, stating, 'It is plain that as a younger man you were prone to behaving in a thoroughly depraved fashion, targeting and subjecting young teenage boys to various forms of sexual abuse. There are six victims, each of whom were young when they were abused by you.' The judge further condemned Eamens for moving through life seemingly unperturbed by his actions, having taken away the innocence and childhood of his victims.

Following sentencing, Detective Inspector Iolo Edwards expressed relief that justice had been served. He highlighted the extensive and lengthy investigation carried out into Eamens’ activities and stated that the verdict would hopefully offer some closure to the victims. DI Edwards also emphasized that anyone affected by sexual violence can seek support anonymously through the North Wales Sexual Assault Referral Centre, which can be contacted at 0808 1563658.